Is the delta variant making more Mississippians get vaccinated? Here's what to know

The past two weeks in Mississippi, frenzied by the COVID-19 delta variant that's surged case counts and packed the state's intensive care units, has one silver lining: More Mississippians are getting vaccinated.

It's exactly what the state needs to begin mitigating the rapidly spreading delta variant, state health officials say.

Vaccination rates in Mississippi steadily increased in late July as COVID-19 daily cases more than quadrupled from the prior month. The state saw over 40,000 doses given between July 18 to 24. The following week, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported over 33,000 shots in arms.

It's slightly up from June, where between June 5 to July 3, the state averaged under 30,000 shots in arms each week. But it's nowhere near March and April peaks. For comparison, a single week in April reported more than 127,000 doses given.

By mid-July, coronavirus cases, powered by the pernicious delta variant, shot up the state's daily new infections to the quadruple digits with the highest one-day count reaching 1,908 on July 28.

One month earlier, the health department recorded 270 new cases.

MISSISSIPPI VACCINATION RATE:  Track the latest info on COVID-19 vaccines statewide

Recently, Thompson Liddell, an infectious disease physician at the Hattiesburg Clinic, said patients who were previously holding out to see how others reacted to the vaccine have made up their minds to get it as cases have ramped back up.

"I think that we're seeing an uptick in people who are interested in getting the vaccine now that people are getting sick again and they're taking it as something that's not last year's problem," he said.

State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs has attributed weekly increasing vaccination rates as a reaction to spiking case counts driven by the delta variant. As long as the state's fully vaccinated rate remains low, sitting at 32%, he said the delta variant will continue to proliferate among the unvaccinated.

That means the more opportunity it has to spread to people without protection against it, the stronger the delta variant grows.

For Mississippi to get in front of the delta variant, Liddell said a significant number of residents would need to be fully vaccinated. Some health professionals have estimated that number to be around 70 to 90%.

Liddell, alongside numerous Mississippi doctors who've spoken out, back the vaccine for its safety and effectiveness, especially in combatting the delta variant. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in preventing symptomatic disease from the delta variant ranges from the high 80s to the low 90s, Liddell said, noting most vaccines are considered effective at 70%.

"This virus is fighting for its life," he said. "We have to leverage (the tools) we have."

Those tools, for those who can, include vaccination and wearing masks in public indoor spaces, hand washing and social distancing, Liddell said.

COVID-19 vaccinations in Mississippi

Map: COVID-19 vaccinations in Mississippi

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